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House passes health care bill by a vote of 220 to 215
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By a vote of 220 to 215 on Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), a sweeping health care reform measure that calls for expanding health insurance coverage through subsidies and a public health care option.
Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) cast the lone Republican vote in favor of the bill; 39 Democrats voted against it. The $1.052 trillion bill moves to the Senate for consideration and reconciliation with health care legislation being drafted in that chamber.
Key provisions of the House bill include a requirement for individuals to have health insurance and for large businesses to offer it to their employees.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduced the bill on Oct. 29. In a press release, she thanked President Barack Obama for his leadership and support for health care reform.
“He provided the vision and the momentum for us to get the job done for the American people,” Pelosi said in the release. “And for that we are very, very proud — proud of our success, proud of the members of Congress who took a very, very intense interest in the legislation — they know what we have accomplished for the American people.”
The American Medical Association (AMA) lauded the bill’s passage as a gain for patients and physicians.
“The bill will significantly expand health insurance coverage to Americans, empower patient and physician decision making, institute meaningful insurance market reforms, make substantial investments in quality, institute prevention and wellness initiatives, provide incentives to states that adopt certificates of merit and/or early offer liability reforms, and reduce administrative burdens,” J. James Rohack, MD, AMA president, said in a press release.
Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.), an optometrist and member of the G.O.P. Doctors Caucus, voted against the bill and described his opposition to the measure.
“I am for health care reform; unfortunately, this bill does more harm than good,” Boozman said in a press release. “The American people deserve health care reform that gives them access to quality and affordable health care and allows them to make decisions that are best for the care they need.”
Health care reform should enable families and businesses to purchase health insurance across state lines, let small businesses form health insurance purchasing pools and end lawsuits that increase costs because of physicians "being forced to practice defensive medicine," Boozman said.